Core Insights - North Dakota is launching a state-backed stablecoin named Roughrider coin, fully backed by U.S. dollars, aimed at enhancing bank-to-bank transactions and global money movement [2][4] - The initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernize the financial ecosystem in North Dakota, leveraging recent federal law changes [3][4] - The Roughrider coin will be available to banks and credit unions in North Dakota starting in 2026 [2] Group 1: Stablecoin Development - The Roughrider coin is designed to facilitate faster and more secure transactions, integrating traditional finance with blockchain technology [5][6] - The stablecoin will be the first to launch on Fiserv's digital asset platform, which aims to provide efficient digital payment services [4][5] - North Dakota's approach is seen as a pioneering move among U.S. states, following Wyoming's launch of its own stablecoin [7] Group 2: Strategic Partnerships - The partnership with Fiserv allows North Dakota to utilize an existing secure blockchain infrastructure, avoiding the need to develop new systems from scratch [7] - Fiserv's COO emphasized the importance of combining traditional finance reliability with blockchain innovation for improved digital payments [5] Group 3: Regulatory and Economic Context - The North Dakota Industrial Commission supports the stablecoin initiative, highlighting its potential to enhance the state's financial sector [6] - The Roughrider coin is positioned to create a foundation for broader merchant adoption of stablecoins in the future [7]

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Former Fiserv Chief Executive Frank Bisignano, who left the payments processor earlier this year after President Donald Trump tapped him to lead the Social Security Administration, has been appointed as CEO of the Internal Revenue Service as well. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is acting commissioner for the IRS, announced Bisignano’s appoin ...

Core Insights - Fiserv, Inc. has acquired Smith Consulting Group (SCG), enhancing its operational consulting services for community banks and credit unions in the US [1] - The acquisition aims to strengthen Fiserv's position as a provider of core banking and advisory services, facilitating end-to-end transformation for its clients [1][1] - Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed [1] Company Strategy - The addition of SCG allows Fiserv to embed deeper expertise into its service model, enabling earlier and smarter advisory solutions for financial institutions [1][1] - Fiserv and SCG have been partners for over a decade, indicating a strong historical relationship in supporting community banks and credit unions [1][1] Service Offerings - SCG provides consulting services across various Fiserv banking platforms, including DNA, Signature, and Bank Intelligence [1] - The consulting services focus on banking software system conversions, core operations, customer service, online and mobile banking, and other interfaces [1][1] Industry Position - Fiserv is recognized as a global enabler of payments and financial technology, committed to innovation in account processing, digital banking, and merchant services [1] - The acquisition of SCG aligns with Fiserv's goal to help financial institutions achieve growth with speed, clarity, and confidence [1][1]

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Fiserv is acquiring StoneCastle Cash Management, a cash management firm that provides banks liquidity, and will leverage the firm’s platform to bolster its FIUSD stablecoin, the payments giant said Monday in a press release. Fiserv said the StoneCastle acquisition will allow it to become “a technology-enabled source of billions of dollars of institut ...

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Payment processing giant Fiserv said Thursday it has acquired a financial technology consulting firm, Smith Consulting Group, in a deal to help it offer community banks and credit unions “deep subject matter expertise” on the technology platforms they use to run their operations. About 70 people are joining Fiserv in the sale and will integrate withi ...

Core Viewpoint - U.S. companies are increasingly borrowing in euros, with bond sales reaching a record $100 billion in 2024, driven by favorable European funding conditions and a shift away from the dollar [1][2]. Group 1: Market Trends - The offshore fundraising, termed "reverse Yankees," has surged from just over $78 billion for the entirety of 2024, indicating a strong trend towards euro-denominated debt [2]. - The dollar has dropped by 10% this year, influenced by concerns over U.S. trade policy, while the European Central Bank is advocating for a "global euro moment" [2]. - There is a significant trend of asset reallocation towards euros, as indicated by fund flows favoring euro-denominated debt among global issuers [3]. Group 2: Issuance Details - The current cost of issuing bonds in euros, after currency swaps to dollars, is better or comparable for U.S. companies compared to issuing in dollars [5]. - Non-financial firms have led the increase in reverse Yankee issuance, selling nearly 50 billion euros ($59 billion) of bonds, marking a 32% year-on-year increase [5]. - U.S. financial firms have nearly doubled their euro-denominated bond issuance to approximately 35 billion euros this year [7]. Group 3: Notable Companies - Major companies such as Alphabet, Visa, PepsiCo, Fiserv, and Verizon have recently engaged in euro-denominated bond sales, with Alphabet raising almost 7 billion euros in May [6].

According to their latest 13F filings, institutional investors made a series of notable moves in Fiserv Inc. (FI), reflecting ongoing interest in the financial technology leader. Known for its payment processing, digital banking solutions, and broad fintech footprint, FI continues to attract a diverse range of hedge funds and asset managers positioning for long-term growth.Let’s examine some of the most notable changes:Baupost Group LLC/MA (Seth Klarman)Shares: 895,000Change: New PositionValue: $0.15BSeth K ...

Global payments giant Fiserv is preparing to empower small businesses to accept digital currencies. Speaking at TheStreet Roundtable discussion moderated by Roundtable publisher and CEO James Heckman, Watkins revealed Fiserv’s vision to bridge the gap between small businesses and the evolving world of digital payments. Related: What is Crypto? Cryptocurrency explained “Financial institutions move money, and the intersection with the small businesses we serve is critical, small businesses are truly the ba ...

Group 1: Consumer Expectations and Trends - Consumers are increasingly expecting rewards and personalized offers in both online and offline commerce [1] - The use of restaurant loyalty programs has risen to 51% from 45% year-over-year, with participation in quick-service at 49% and full-service at 34% [3] - Immediate and tangible loyalty mechanics are resonating well with restaurant customers [3] Group 2: Loyalty in Hospitality and Travel - Guests value rewards but prioritize immediacy and clear dollar-equivalent benefits when booking travel, with about half factoring rewards into their online travel bookings [6] - Loyalty is critical for guest retention and spending in the hotel industry, with opportunities to embed loyalty offers into guest interactions [9] Group 3: Fiserv's Acquisition of CardFree - Fiserv's acquisition of CardFree introduces a suite of loyalty and payment options tailored for restaurants, allowing seamless integration of reward programs into ordering flows [7] - CardFree's technology enables automatic rewards at checkout across various ordering methods, enhancing customer engagement [8] - The integration of CardFree can also extend loyalty capabilities to hotels, making guest interactions more rewarding [9][10] Group 4: Clover's Enhanced Capabilities - Fiserv's Clover platform gains enhanced loyalty capabilities through the CardFree acquisition, supporting mobile pay-and-earn flows and kiosk-based redemption [11] - The company is focused on expanding Clover's functionalities beyond a point of sale device, with plans to incorporate more AI [12]

Core Banking Platform Selection - Thread Bank has selected Fiserv's Finxact as its core banking platform to enhance its deposit and payments infrastructure [1][2] - The decision is driven by the need for a modern, real-time core that supports scalability and compliance [2][3] Partnership and Technology Integration - Thread is collaborating with Infinant to utilize its Interlace Platform, which will provide an embedded banking layer for Finxact's API core [2] - This integration will enable Thread and its customers to access and manage both embedded and core banking capabilities, including payment processing [2] Industry Challenges and Opportunities - Community banks, like Thread, face significant challenges from digital-first demands and competition from fintech platforms and larger financial institutions [3][4] - The modernization of banking technology is complicated by outdated core systems that limit data portability and integration capabilities [5]